JAMAICA: PNP GENERAL SECRETARY DISCUSSES COKE EXTRADITION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000962 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JMACK-WILSON) (BALVARADO) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) L/LEI (CHOLLAND) (AKLUESNER) INR/IAA (GBOHIGAN) JUSTICE FOR OIA (PPETTY) TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW INR/RES (RWARNER) CENTRAL AMERICAN CARIBBEAN BASIN COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CJAN CVIS PGOV PINR ASEC SNAR SOCI EAID KCOR KCRM, JM, XL, CH, VE SUBJECT: JAMAICA: PNP GENERAL SECRETARY DISCUSSES COKE EXTRADITION WITH EMBASSY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DEFENSE COMMUNITY REF: KINGSTON 697; KINGSTON 676; KINGSTON 733; KINGSTON 924 KINGSTON 712; KINGSTON 490; KINGSTON 712 KINGSTON 00000962 001.2 OF 002 Summary: -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On November 12, Emboffs organized a largely informational meeting at Post between representatives of the Mission's law enforcement community and Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Bunting, General Secretary and Opposition Spokesman for National Security for the opposition People's National Party (PNP). Bunting, who had requested the meeting, was ostensibly interested in a briefing on the myriad areas of cooperation between the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and the U.S. However, Bunting is ambitious and a rising star in his party, so it is likely that he was also engaged in making valuable contacts should the PNP return to power. As has been the case in the past, Bunting was quite vocal in his criticism of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)'s anti-crime efforts, Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding's handling of the ongoing Christopher Coke extradition request, and the role of garrisons in Jamaica's political life. PNP "Embarrassed" By Coke Extradition Delay -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) After briefings from Post's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS),the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),the U.S. Marshalls Service (USMS),the Defense Attach????'s Office (DAO), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),and USAID, the meeting turned to the Coke extradition request (Ref A, B). Bunting, who has spoken previously with Emboffs on the topic (Ref C),asserted that the Coke extradition request was a "test of Jamaica's political will" in fighting organized crime and that the PNP was highly embarrassed by the GOJ's response. "It's okay to extradite small criminals, but when it comes to big ones we stall," Bunting lamented. Under the previous PNP-led GOJ, Bunting maintained that extradition requests typically left the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) within 24 hours to prevent leaks. Discounting the GOJ's legal arguments against the Coke extradition, Bunting stated that "a person's rights are for the courts to decide, not the administration." He asserted that, by stalling, the PM and the GOJ are losing credibility in fighting crime, and noted that "this undermines the credibility of the administration and makes other agencies and missions start to question cooperating with such an administration, our international reputation is damaged." As for public perceptions of the GOJ's handling of the extradition request, Bunting noted that "I'm surprised civil society has not spoken out. But not surprised, Coke is a terrifying person by reputation." Cooperation Just Window Dressing -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Regarding the recent resignation of Police Commissioner Hardly Lewin (Ref D),Bunting asserted that Lewin had essentially been fired by the PM. Normally, civil servants, including members KINGSTON 00000962 002.2 OF 002 of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF),are insulated from political influence and do not change with administrations. Historically, the appointment of the Police Commissioner has been by agreement between the GOJ and opposition party. However, Bunting stated that "if the Prime Minister says that he has no confidence in the Police Commissioner's ability to fight crime, he essentially fired him." While admitting that Commissioner Lewin had poor interpersonal skills and was not an effective team builder, Bunting nevertheless insisted that his integrity and character were beyond reproach. Bunting also questioned the PM's motives in pushing Lewin out with only a year remaining on his contract. "The Prime Minister's cooperation with the opposition is window dressing," Bunting maintained. "Key decisions are made in a partisan manner. Practically, the Prime Minister fired Lewin. Bad timing makes people wonder if there is a connection." (NOTE: In a previous discussion, Bunting contended that many in the JLP opposed Lewin because he had favored extraditing Coke. Ref E. End Note). Why Do People Rob Banks? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In presenting the PNP national security vision, Bunting put in a plug for additional aid for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF),which he described as a professional officer's corps that, while generally not corrupt, had been starved for resources. Helicopters are desperately needed for coastal operations, Bunting maintained, with the JDF currently reduced to just a handful, most of which are used to chauffeur the PM around the island. Bunting defended Jamaica's acceptance of military and economic aid from donors such as Venezuela and China, but implied that such relationships were more pragmatic than ideological, as well as necessary given what he described as declining U.S. and British interest in the Caribbean. "If Chavez offers aid, it's not a political issue, we need aid," Bunting maintained. "Why do people rob banks? That is where the money is. Everyone is taking a pragmatic approach." Comment and Analysis: -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The ambitious and admittedly partisan Bunting clearly sees the Coke extradition case as a powerful political weapon with which to pummel the JLP; while he admits that the PNP has had its own history of relationships with criminal dons in garrison communities, he continues to insist that the JLP's ties to, and dependence on, organized crime are of a far greater magnitude. Having returned to politics in 2007 after several years in the private sector, the relatively-young Bunting has risen rapidly within the PNP and likely has his sights set eventually on the party's presidency. Despite what seemed to be differences earlier this year with PNP President Portia Simpson Miller over party strategy (Ref F),Bunting seems to have been successful at the PNP's recent annual conference in at least papering over the party's divisions and improving its financial management (Ref G). A former investment banker educated in the U.S. and Canada, Bunting also represents a more pragmatic influence within the traditionally leftist PNP. Bunting's request to meet with the Embassy's law enforcement community suggests that he is interested in developing and maintaining a close relationship with U.S. decision makers, a relationship the U.S. should encourage. End Analysis. Parnell